These 5 Things Will Crush Your Dog's Spirit Without You Realizing It

We all want to do well by our dogs. But sometimes, without realizing it, we do things that harm our dogs more than help them. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad dog parent – it just means that you have more to learn!

Here are 5 ways that you may be harming your dog’s spirit without realizing it:

1. Taking Items Away

You might think that taking away your dog’s food or toys are helpful. But this doesn’t actually help – it teaches your dog that you’re going to take away the things they like. This can lead to aggression and resource guarding.

2. Yelling

Yes, sometimes you lose your temper. But shouting at your dog is only going to upset them, leading to stress and emotional anxiety and harming your bond.

3. Not Exercising

Some dogs just don’t want to get moving. They may have pain issues, not enjoy exercise, or just be lazy. But it’s crucial that you make sure your dog gets at least a little physical activity going every day.

4. Leaving Them Alone

You can’t be home all the time, but you shouldn’t leave your dog alone for long, extended periods of time. This deprives them of socialization and can stress them out.

5. Crate Punishments

Crate training involves teaching your dog to love their crate. If you use crate time as a punishment, it’ll make it difficult for you to get your dog to like the crate – and they don’t really understand time-outs, anyway, so it’s a moot point!

Feature Image Source: Pixabay